It’s time for an installment of Thursday Things, otherwise known as things I’d like to have.
Nothing here is essential to my life’s happiness and well-being or anything, but they’d be nice.
1. A mini-donut pan
2. Or else a donut maker
3. A big hatchet A knife for slicing through a 9 x 13 pan of brownies, bars, or cake in one fell swoop
I hate when I am slicing desserts and running my knife through the frosting and through the cake, row by row. It creates a total mess and my lines and rows are never even. I want to just attack it with one fell swoop.
Not sure if this tool work on desserts as it’s intended for pizzas but it’s worth a try
Anything I can do to not get brown crumbs into the white frosting of Fudgy Nutella Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting is a good thing <– And I realize if this is my worst problem in life, I’ve lived a blessed life.
But see the foodie sites don’t like my pictures if they’re messy. <– Harsh but true.
4. A new flat iron that is One Pass and Done
If you love your flat iron, tell me about it and where I can buy it!
So many of them either get too hot (major damage), not hot enough (re-passing, over and over; also damaging), the plates don’t touch, the plates have corners and rip or snag your hair out (yikes, ouch!)
And yes, I did the Brazilian Blowout (twice) but it’s worn off and I won’t do it again. Fine while it lasted but not something I want to maintain. I’d rather just flat-iron as need be.
5. Another external backup drive. Mine is almost full. Already.
How would you feel if you lost ALL your digital photos, documents/work, digital music, and everything else you have on your computer?
I cannot fathom it.
Yes, please back up your machines as I urged here
I didn’t even know this product existed until reader Jenny told me about it this week. Thanks, Jenny!
Basically, I could ditch my mouse and do all my photo editing with a pen which would give me much better control over what I am doing.
When editing, the tiniest, slightest little motions can really make a huge difference in the finished photo and sometimes I feel like Mrs. Butterfingers with my mouse. I barely touch it and a major change occurs to the photo and I have to start over or try to back track. I’d love the wireless pen tablet for control and precision.
7. Another memory card for my camera
All this crap this camera stuff is just so pricey!
8. And a faster card reader
I shoot in RAW and sometimes it takes 10 minutes (or more!) just to get the photos into my computer because the files are so large. And that’s before I even make a single edit.
Being more efficient = better and more time to spend thinking about #9
9. Drinks on the beach with Scott
10. Chocolate + Peanut Butter
Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting (No Bake)
The winner of the 500 Business Cards Giveaway is:
Kristin @ STUFT Mama September 20, 2011
“Ahh!!! I need new busniess cards big-time. I’m running a race to raise money for my friend’s deaf daughter and need help getting the word out! 
I only have cards for my fitness, not my blog. Yay for this amamzing giveaway! Averie- you ROCK!”
Congrats, Kristin
Questions:
What are your Thursday Things? Any recommendations on anything I’ve mentioned? What do you have your eye on?
Have a great day…the weekend is coming up. Yay!
My stylist has been on me to buy a new flat iron forever! I can’t bring myself to spend 150$ for one but I hear it’s so worth it!! I forget the name she suggested but I hear Chi’s are wonderful!
I just made some baked donuts today!! But I would like a mini pan – I just have the normal sized – because mini is just so darn cute!
ok good to know you have it and use it. I feel like they are just glorified muffin pans…but cuter :)
I’ve literally been telling myself to buy an external for months and months. I can’t imagine losing everything but at the same time I keep putting off spending the money. I know they are worth it! Although a comment above about cloud or dropbox caught my attention, I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for the reminder (again).
with all your photography, you HAVE to back up in some way, whatever way you go w/ is better than nothing!
Hi Avery,
I bought the T3 on the highest recommendation by more then one of the salon girls but once I brought it home and tried it, I immediately got rid of it (in fact, I tried to return it, after one use, as I was so unsatisfied but they wouldn’t take it back!). I have been through too many straighteners and, for me personally, Chi is by far the best. Its the one pass and done for me!
I have never tried the Croc but am now interested!
omg thank you for lmk!! no T3 for me, now!
And I had never heard of Croc either…I have a 10 yr old Hai which has been great but it’s..old & on it’s last leg. Good to know you love your chi.
Tell me if you find a great flat iron — mine sucks. It was a $25 one from Target. It gets way too hot but I still have to do a few passes which results in crazy kinks near my scalp. No good.
That pizza cutter thing is so cool!
That knife looks awesome, but I’d be scared to hold it!
I use to work at a bakery and we cut desserts/bars by measuring and making small cuts everywhere we want the knife slice then make all the lines and in between each you wipe down the knife with a damp paper towel. That should help with your frosted brownies! ;)
I have also seen gadgets that have wheels and you can cut things with wheels, pizza roller style
I just know that for people who do commercial baking (not that I am close!) but there has got to be a better way that dip, wipe, repeat with a knife!
Confession….
My Thursday Thing is crunchy Cheetos…
And I may ir may not have an orange keyboard right now!
Brooke
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
Wow, that pizza/cake/brownie knife looks amazing…I hate the messiness that cutting something multiple times with a knife makes too! I think my number one Thursday thing right now would be a jar of peanut butter, a jar of nutella, a spoon and a magical “no calories” get-out-of-gym-free card – your nutella and pb graham bars have given me a serious craving! :)
as i just said to a commenter above you
yes the dip in water, wipe, slide, repeat
dip, wipe, slide, repeat
very familiar!
I just want something with one huge blade that I press down and make a huge row at once not sliding it all thru every time. For food photography, I need to make it as “clean” and pretty as possible :)
I think I saw that same donut maker at Target and was THIS CLOSE to buying it! And that brownie/pizza cutter? I’m pretty sure I need that in my life right now.
ok im going to look at target now for one! :)
the donut pan!! i bought the regular and mini on amazon. i couldn’t resist any longer.. and so glad i got them!
ooh now i need to have it :)
I have a ghd flat iron – it is purely amazing. It heats in 30 seconds and is a once through and done.
the only thing is that they are super expensive {but sooooo worth it} so it’s an investment. But a bonus if you can get someone to buy it for you as a birthday gift ;) they sell them at Sephora:
https://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=5864&categoryId=B60&om_mmc=esv103264-GG&om_kwpur=104633411&ppc_crid=6140098337&sbanner=us_search&esvcid=S1316726943_ADOGOE_AGI1118480_CRE6140098337_TID104633411_RFDd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20%3d
I ALMOST LINKED TO THE GHD’S!!! but linked to the T3 instead
Glad to know you love yours. Some of the reviews on the GHD’s were not stellar and for the money, i want perfection :) Thanks for lmk your thoughts.
Okay, this may be a super stupid recommendation, and possibly one you’ve already tried, but when cutting anything with frosting first soak your knife in extremely hot water, then between each cut dip it in the hot water again to get off all the crumbs/frosting before making your next cut.
yes the dip, wipe, slide, repeat
dip, wipe, slide, repeat
very familiar!
I just want something with one huge blade that I press down and make a huge row at once not sliding it all thru every time. For food photography, I need to make it as “clean” and pretty as possible :)
I just bought a new flat iron that I love, I’ll have to go look up the name for you! My old one was doing the “rip my hair” thing out and it was sooo painful.
So far my favorite is the chi, my sister has one, but it is too pricey for me to justify right now. I have never tried the croc. Right now i use a hot tools one that does the job.
Katie
I have never tried Chi or Croc. Have a 10 year old Hai that needs updating!
my recommendation (that you’ve heard me say before!) for #5 – CLOUD ! :D cloud storage is awesome, and if you ever need to share files with others or even between your home network of computers, it is SO effortless! a small amount is free, and you can buy increments at good prices – my favorite is dropbox. no need for externals anymore! drag and drop and DONE! it’s also how I backup my blog, directly to dropbox.
I have NO suggestions for flat irons – I have one and am totally inept at using it. actually, if I’m being honest, I am too lazy. I have no patience to do my own hair. if you see it looking perfectly straight and awesome, someone else has done it. ;)
Cloud. Scared to rely on it b/c I heard some horror stories at my food & light conference I was at with people losing things and it not being 100% reliable. Then again, nothing is perfect and failsafe. I need to look into cloud/dropbox b/c buying these $150 ext hard drives & then storing all of them, too, is cumbersome. Always something… :)
I’ve been through several flat irons, but my favorite so far (and current one) is the Croc. It’s not the cheapest (or the most expensive for that matter) but wow it’s by far the best. And I’ve even tried the Chi! I’ve had it almost 3 years now and it’s still going strong. I highly recommend it!
I have almost bought a Chi but never have. Thanks for the Croc info!